Sectionalized expansible smokestack



3mm fi, 3% R. E. LAWRENCE SECTIONALIZED EXPANSIBLE SMOKESTACK 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1968 INVENTOR 41 44 40196 IVCZ ATTORNEYS SECTIONALIZED EXPANSIBLE SMOKESTACK 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1968 E. LAWRENCE EAR? SECTIONALIZED EXPANSIBLE SMOKESTACK Filed April 16, 19(38 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1970 R. E. LAWRENCE SECTIONALIZED BXPANSIBLE SMOKESTACK 6 Sheets-Sheet 4,

Filed April 16, 1968 ATTRNEYS w: ill? 1970 ms. LAWRENCE 3, 8 9

SECTIONALIZED EXPANSIBLE SMOKESTACK Filed April 1.6, 1968 6 Sheets-Shee t 5 R. E. LAWRENCE SECTIONAL IZED EXPANSIBLE SMOKES'IACK 6 SheetsSheet 6 Filed April 16, 1968 I ll.

F/C /WEP (Fluff/M676 III/III United States Patent 3,487,795 SECTION AlLiZlED EXPANSIBLE SMOKESTACK Richard E. Lawrence, 50-25 71st St., Woodside, N.Y. 11377 Filed Apr. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 721,829 lint. Cl. F23j 11/00; F23! 17/02 US. Cl. 110-184 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to smokestacks made of steel plate, for use with breeching construction and is an improvement over my US. Letters Patent 3,363,591.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that condensation of moisture upon the inner side of steel smokestacks is a major factor in the corrosive deterioration of the steel plates and welding or bolting means used in its construction. Sulphurous compounds in the condensation chemically destroy the steel causing the same to become pitted and flaked away. Accordingly as described in my Patent 3,363,591, the enclosure of the smokestack within a protective enclosure has been shown for preventing destruction of the smokestack, enclosure compressing an outer wall that encloses in spaced relation thereto an inner wall which forms a smokestack duct or flue. The space between the inner and outer walls is hermetically sealed so as to develop an insulation preventing the entry of condensation from below ambient temperature changes between the atmosphere and the inner wall of the inner flue of the smokestack.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved sectionalized, expansible, insulated smokestack wherein the smokestack may be comprised of a plurality of fines or separate chimneys, all of which are enclosed within a common singular outer enclosure forming a spaced-apart outer wall for hermetically sealing an airspace between the outer wall and the chimneys so to prevent condensate action on the inner wall of the inner flue by the insulant valve created retaining temperatures above ambient.

It is another object of the invention to provide a smokestack wherein the individual chimney units are designed to be readily fitted and welded together so as to form smokestacks of either two or more units.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a smokestack wherein the smokestack may be decoratively trimmed upon its outer side such as by fiuting so as to resemble a Grecian column or a Roman column.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a smokestack wherein the reinforcing structure of the smokestack is internally contained so as to not visually detract from the decorative outer trim.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a top structure for the smokestack that can be assembled as a unit upon and welded to the assembled smokestack assemblies and which is of decorative design.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a decorative smokestack construction which is simple in design,

3,487,795 Patented Jan. 6, 11974) inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eflicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a smokestack, showing one form of the present invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of. the smokestack illustrated in FIG. 1, shown partly in cross section, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing the smokestack cap structure.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, showing elements of the cap structure, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of smokestack incorporating decorative outer trim.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view thereof, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of one form of chimney unit used for construction of a multi-chimney, non-decorative smokestack.

FIG. 9 is a similar view showing a pair of the units illustrated in FIG. 8 secured together to form a multichimney non-decorative smokestack.

FIG. 10 is a transverse cross sectional view of another form of chimney unit used for construction of a multichimney decorative smokestack.

FIG. 11 is a similar view showing a pair of the units illustrated in FIG. 10 secured together to form a two chimney decorative smokestack.

FIG. 12 is a similar view showing four of the units illustrated in FIG. 10 secured together to form a four chimney decorative smokestack.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a modified smokestack incorporating a reverse Roman column, and shown partly in cross section.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view thereof shown partly in cross section.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a modified smokestack cap structure.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of yet another form of smokestack comprised of quarter cylinder sections.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to FIGS. l-S, inclusive, the reference numeral 20 represents an improved smokestack and breeching made according to the present invention wherein there is a smokestack structure 21 comprised of a plurality of vertically adjacent smokestack assemblies 22 located between a bottom plate 23 and a top plate 23a adjacent a cap assembly 24-.

Each of the assemblies 22 is composed of a plurality of parallel, spaced apart chimney fines 25 formed of steel plates welded together, the lower ends of the fiues rest upon a lower plate 26 to which they are welded. The upper ends of the fines rest below an upper plate 27 to which they are also welded. Relatively smaller openings 28 and 29 are cutout in plates 26 and 27, respectively, for aligning with a relatively larger opening 30 extending through each of the fiues, as shown in FIG. 2. It is understood that the diameters of the various lines may be alike or different as required for a particular job. The plates 26 and 27 are rigidly secured together by plug welds 31 made within the flues, around the openings 28 and 29, thus securing the assemblies together.

Each assembly also includes a plurality of radially extending, vertical, flat plates 32 enjoined by welding, the

plates likewise being in abutment at their lower edges to the upper side of plate 26, and at their upper edges to the under side of plate 27 to which they are welded, thus providing structural strength to the assembly.

An arcuate, vertical plate 33 is fitted between adjoining fiat plates 32, thus enclosing the flue within a sealed space 34, therearound. The plate 33 is welded along its side edges, to the flat plates 32, and at its lower and upper edges to the plates 26 and 27 thus hermetically sealing the air within the space 34 so as to prevent entry of moisture laden air thereinto, as shown in FIG. 3. The radially outward ends of the flat plates 32 may protrude beyond the arcuate plates to afford an outer corner therebetween which may receive a corner weld.

A plurality of channel configurated braces 35 may be secured to the inner sides of the arcuate plates before assembling, the braces thus strengthening the outer Wall 36 thus formed by the arcuate plates 33.

The bottom plate 23 may be provided with openings 36 for receiving mounting bolts for securement upon a masonry or other supporting base, not shown. Breeching openings 33' are provided in the bottom assembly 22 for connecting horizontal breeching to the respective internal flues 25.

The cap assembly 24 mounted upon the uppermost assembly comprises a rain and snow deflective device that directs the same away from the center toward the edges thereof. The cap assembly is comprised of a conical dome 37 secured at its peripheral edge 38 to upper edge 39 of conical side wall 40. The dome includes openings 41 for alignment With the upper ends of relatively short chimney flue extensions 42 secured by welding between dome 37 and a cap bottom plate 43 secured to adjacent upper plate 27. A hermetically-sealed space 44 is thus formed around extensions 42 within the cap assembly. Openings 43a in plate 43 communicate between openings 28a in place 23a and openings 42 of the extensions.

As shown in FIG. 3, an expansion joint 45 may be provided for a flue which carries greater heat than the other flues of the Smokestack, such as incinerator flues which becomes much hotter than the other flues and thus requiring a means to allow for expansion thereof without stressing the remaining welded assembly. The expansion joint includes a short collar 46 welded to the underside of upper plate 23a or 27. The incinerator flue 47 is rigidly welded to the lower plate 26, and has an accordion type fold 48 providing a space 49 adjacent the upper end to allow for expansion. In order to maintain the space 34 hermetically sealed, the upper end of flue 47 adjacent the fold is fitted slidably free around the collar 46.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a modified Smokestack 50 is shown which includes decorative trim, which in the present case is shown resembling a Grecian column. In the present form, all reinforcing structure is internally confined so as not to disturb or detract from the decorative exterior. The smokestack structure 50 is made of assemblies 52 generally similar to assemblies 22 and including flues 25, braces 35 and flat scalloped end plates 26a and 2711. In the present form, a fully cylindrical member 53 uninterrupted by the protruding ends of flat plates and provides the principal outer shell. In the present construction, a plurality of vertical plates 54, of transversely arcuate configuration, are plug welded to the outer side of member 53 as shown at 55, the plug welds 55 being thereafter ground down to form a smooth flush finish. The abutting side edges 56 of the plate 54 are then seam welded together. The lower and upper edges of adjacent plates 54 on vertically adjacent assemblies 52 are welded to the scalloped edges of the plates 26a and 27a to form an integral structure. The assemblies 52 are secured together by spot or plug welding the internally-extending flanges within the flues 25 as indicated at 57 in FIG. 7. A decorative annular group 58 is supported on the Smokestack and about the cap assembly 24 at the top thereof.

In FIGS, 8 and 9, a further modified construction of the invention is shown wherein a smokestack is formed by assembling a number of individual chimney units 60. Thus, two of the individual chimney units shown in FIG. 8 are used to form a smokestack 61 shown in FIG. 9. A novel feature of the chimney unit 60 comprises an inner flue 62 separated by a hermetically sealed space 63 from a U-shaped section outer side wall plate 64, the unit including flange cover end plates 65 at each opposite end, each of which has a central opening 66 therethrough aligned with the flue 62. In this construction, the U-shaped outer side wall plate 64 is enjoined at its ends to a flange flat wall plate 68. Braces 35 may be incorporated on the inner side of the U-shaped wall plates. When assembled to form a multi-chimney smokestack, the flat flange Wall plates 64 are placed in abutting relation and seam welded at their edges. It is to be noted that the end plates 65 project outwardly beyond the U-shaped wall plate 64 and that this form of the invention is for utility purposes and not for receiving a decorative Grecian or Roman column trim. The individual units 60 are assembled one upon the other by welding the flange end plates 65 together at 69. To provide the assembly 61 of FIG. 9 the vertical flange wall plates 68 will be similarly welded together at their vertical outside edges.

In a further modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, inclusive, a chimney unit 70 is shown for assembly of a multi chimney smokestack, the unit 70 being designed to receive, if desired, outer trim for decorative purposes. The unit 70 likewise includes flue 62 separated by hermetically sealed space 63 from an outer wall 64 comprisedof U-shaped section and flange flat wall plates or elements, 67 and 68a. The wall element 68a extends at its sides beyond the junction with wall element 67 as in the former modification. However, opposite end plates 65a do not project at their peripheries beyond the wall edge, thus readily adapting the unit for receiving decorative trim, but do extend inwardly of the flues 62 from within which the unit 70 can be plug welded together as indicated at 69a. As shown in FIG. 12, the smokestack may be comprised of four units 70. A SHlOkCSfiEICk comprised of two units 70, welded along the joined flat side plates 68a shown in FIG. 11 could likewise be made to incorporate the trim if preferred. It will be noted that in the construction shown in FIG. 12, the wall elements 68a of each unit 70 is slightly modified by not extending along one vertical side beyond the junction with wall element 67 so to form a square corner and thus allow the four units 70 to closely fit together with the wall element 67 of one unit being in abutment with a wall element 67 of an adjacent unit, and welded at their apices 71 and 72.

In still another modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, a smokestack is shown incorporating a decorative trim 91 which is of reverse Roman column design, and forming in itself the outer wall of the smokestack 90. This outer trim wall 91 is comprised of a plurality of 'vertically elongated panels 92, each of which is transversely arched, and having vertical edges 93 which are radially inwardly turned respective to the Smokestack, the edges 93 of one panel being enjoined by a seam weld to the corresponding edges of adjacent panels. The channel braces 35 will be attached to the elongated panels 92. The Smokestack 90 includes a plurality of indi-vidual chimneys 30 and supporting channels 35 mounted within the outer trim wall in a similar manner as the smokestack illustrated in FIG. 7. Likewise, end plates 26 and 27, such as shown in FIG. 7 are used to enjoin assemblies 96. The end plates 26 and 27 are flanged inwardly of the flues 30 to afford welding 69a from therewithin to join the assemblies 96 into a stack.

In FIG. 15, a modified cap structure 100 is shown to comprise a conical configurated canopy 101 enjoined at its periphery by a weld to a top end plate 27a of an uppermost assembly. A plurality of chimneys 30 have their upper ends extending up through Openings 102 in the conical canopy 101, each chimneys upper end being enclosed within individual conical configurated enclosure 103 forming space 104 therebetween which is enclosed at its upper end by an annular top plate 105.

In FIG. 16, a further modified multiple chimney smokestaclr 110 is shown wherein there are a plurality of quarter cylinder sections 111, which in an assembled position form a cylindrical smokestack. Each quarter section includes flat vertical panels 112 and 113 welded at right angles to each other, and an arcuate vertical panel 114 between opposite end plates 115 each having a central opening 116 between which :a chimney 30 is afiixed and of less internal diameter to permit internal welding of the plates together when stacked one upon the other. A space 117 is thus formed between the chimney and vertical panels for insulating purposes.

It is to be noted that the panels 112 and 113 have a vertical side edge 18 that extends radially outward beyond the panel 114 for the purpose of being welded to adjacent side edges of adjacent quarter sections 111. The outer periphery of adjacent end plates 115 may be welded together.

Thus, there has been provided an improved, sectionalized insulated smokestack and breeching comprised of a plurality of individual flues grouped to form a Smokestack, one of which may be longitudinally expansible relative to the other flues, and wherein the flues are hermetically sealed around their other side by either a common enclosing outer wall or each flue is hermetically enclosed by its own outer wall.

While various changes may be made in the details of construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an improved sectionalized, expansible, insulated Smokestack, the combination of an elongated smokestack comprised of a plurality of welded assemblies in end to end relationship, the lowermost of said assemblies being mounted upon a bottom plate, the uppermost of said assemblies having a top plate thereabove, a cap assembly upon said top plate, each of said assemblies having means for containing a plurality of individual chimneys and comprises a plurality of individual flues defining said chimneys, enclosure means around said flues, said enclosure means comprising opposite end plates adjacent the ends of said flues and side walls in spaced relation thereto so as to define a hermetically sealed space between said side walls and said flues, and said end plates having openings therein in alignment with said flues.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said flues comprises a duct secured at one end to one of said end plates, the opposite end of said duct being in spaced relation with the opposite ends of said end plates, a collar secured to said opposite end plate, said collar being fitted into said spaced end of said duct, and said spaced end of said duct having an accordion type fold therearound, said duct being longitudinally expansible relative to the other said flues of said Smokestack.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said assemblies further includes a plurality of longitudinal upstanding flat plates in radial arnangement, one of said flues positioned between each of said plates, and a vertical arcuate plate between said flat plates forming said side walls.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely arcuate plates are welded in side edge abutment to the outer side of said side wall to form a decorative appearance resembling a Grecian column.

5. In an improved sectionalized, expansible, insulated Smokestack, the combination of an elongated Smokestack comprised of a plurality of welded assemblies in end to end relationship, the lowermost of said assembiles being mounted upon a bottom plate, the uppermost of said assemblies having a top plate there above, a cap assembly upon said top plate, each of said assemblies having means for containing a plurality of individual chimneys and comprises a plurality of individual flues defining said chimneys, enclosure means around said flues, said enclosure means comprising opposite end plates adjacent the ends of said flues and side walls in spaced relation thereto so as to define a hermetically sealed space between said side walls and said flues, and said end plates having openings therein in alignment with said flues.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said chimney unit side wall comprises a transversely U- shaped wall element having parallel opposite legs between a semi-cylindrical portion, and a flat wall element secured across the ends of said opposite legs.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said flat wall element has side portions which extend beyond the side edges of said U-shaped wall element.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said flat wall element has one side portion which extends beyond one side edge of said U-shaped wall element, the other side portion of said flat wall element having a side edge in abutment with the other side edge of said U- shaped wall element so to form a square corner.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said openings in said end plates are relatively smaller than said flue central opening so as to form inward extending flanges in the path of said flue opening, said flanges receiving securement together means.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cap assembly comprises a conical side wall secured between a conical dome and a base plate, a plurality of flue extensions between said dome and base plate, a hermetically sealed space between said flue extensions and said side wall, and openings in said dome and base plate in alignment with each other said flue extensions.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein each said assembly is comprised of a plurality of quarter cylinder sections interfitted together, each said section including a pair of flat side walls at right angle to each other, and an arcuate wall therebetween to form a tubular opening through which one of said chimneys extends, and said flat walls of one section being secured to an adjacent flat wall of an adjacent section.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein a plunality of longitudinally-extending, transversely-arcuate plates are welded in longitudinal edge abutment to each other in a ring configurated arrangement with the transverse arc of each plate extending radially-inwardly so as to form an inverted Roman column, said inverted column being in spaced apart relation with said side wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,330,233 7/1967 Clements -184 3,302,599 2/1967 Lawrence 110184 KENNETH W. SPRAGUE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 986O 

